Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

So I don't say anything.

The silence stretches between us until he finally mutters, "Goodnight, Taryn."

And then the call ends.

I lower the phone from my ear, staring at the screen like it might give me some

kind of answer. But it doesn't.

I let out a breath and lean back against the edge of the bed, pressing my head

against the mattress.

The world feels heavier than usual.

And for the first time in a long time—

I feel completely, utterly lost.

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I stare up at the ceiling, my back pressed against the cold floor, the documents

still sprawled around me. My chest is tight, my thoughts tangled. I should do

something-keep digging, make another call, chase the truth until I bleed for it.

But instead, I just fucking lie here.

I close my eyes. Breathe. Try not to think about him. Try not to think about the

weight of his hand on my skin, the way his voice curled around my name like it

belonged to him. Like I belonged to him.

It doesn't work.

The memory slithers in, uninvited.

I shove it down.

A loud bang makes me jolt up. My door flies open like it owes someone money,

and then there's Zoe-her arms stacked with dresses, a piece of bread jammed

between her teeth, eyes wide and full of untamed chaos. "The fuck-?" I scramble, sweeping the stolen documents off the floor in a panic,

shoving them under my bed like I'm thirteen and hiding contraband from a strict

parent.

Zoe stomps in, completely unbothered. "You," she says through a mouthful of

bread, pointing at me like I've personally offended her ancestors. "Are going out."

I blink. "The hell I am."

"Yes. The hell you are." She marches over, slamming the dresses onto my bed.

The hangers clatter against each other. "Because you need it. Desperately."

I exhale sharply, rubbing my temples. "Zoe, I'm not in the mood for some-"I motion

vaguely at the dresses, at her overly

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11:54 Tue, 25 M

Chapter 76

determined expression. "-whatever the fuck this is."

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+53)

"Oh, I know," she says, too sweetly. "That's why I'm forcing you. Because if I don't,

room, going batshit crazy over documents like

and I refuse

at her. "I like being a feral

Zoe puts her hands on her hips, tilting her head like she's about

to stop being

need to clear your head. And what better way to do

something physical?"

my

She grins, all teeth.

me I

I wouldn't

second we step inside, the

leather, metal, and aggression. The

erratically, casting jagged

entire place feels like a well-dressed crime scene. Music blasts through the speakers, heavy bass

slamming into

referees calling

a goddamn underground

slowly turn to

She smiles innocently.

"You dragged me to an

ring," she corrects. "Not illegal. Just...very

the ring. Then back

is wrong

a dismissive hand. "You need to let off

figured

deep voice

going to kill you when

I whip around.

to the ring, arms crossed, expression

ever-is Jacob Wyatt.

I blink. Hard.

to Zoe. "You planned

Zoe shrugs. "Guilty"

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Tue, 25

Chapter 76

my hands up. "What

says casually, like he didn't just drop a

back to him.

Jacob smirks. "Fighting."

"For what?"

just looks at

And

way

stomach

drop.

sinking feeling crawls up my spine. "Jacob," I say carefully.

is fighting anyone or

He doesn't reply.

Just smiles.

then I hear

announcer's voice, cutting through the thick air like a

and gentlemen, the match you've all

The

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ring. Two

shake hands. And then, without warning, they brutalize each

It's not a sport.

It's war.

guy lands a

hard I swear I feel it. The Italian retaliates, grabbing

and slamming him into the

My stomach churns.

normal fight. This is barely legal

hiss. "I

yet," she urges, grabbing my arm.

don't fucking trust

a knockout. The Italian guy doesn't

The crowd goes wild.

the announcer's voice

next... a challenger unlike any you've

The lights cut out.